Maybe it’s just a cultural thing. Or maybe it’s just the fact that not all of us are built to eat ash-flavored things. Either way, there are definitely numerous types of weird candy out there that we likely wouldn’t touch with a pole. And, just for the record, for them to classify as weird, we will take anything that essentially makes you lift an eyebrow and/or scrunch your nose the first time you lay your eyes on them. Here is ten of the weirdest of that weird candy.

#1 Lobster Candy

We need to face it – the number one reason why a sweet treat might be considered more bizarre than a normal candy should be is because of a weird flavor. Lobster candy is just one of those things that you seriously doubt you’d ever hear a child excitedly ask for.

#2 Uncle Urnie’s Candy Ashes

We couldn’t fit into the title the part that mentioned that they’re black cherry flavored. Now that you know this, you might be wondering what the actual taste of the candy is. Is it ash or is it cherry? In a sense, it’s both. It’s one thing to get super specific with your favorite flavors, but completely another to wake up one day and wonder what your grandpa’s urn ashes taste like.

#3 Cockroach Candy

The good news is that, fortunately, there isn’t any actual cockroach flavor involved in this business. The bad news is… no matter how you look at it, that’s still a cola jelly shaped like a cockroach. We suppose that it’s a positive thing that the creators are self-aware and admit that their sugary treat is supposed to make your stomach turn.

#4 Prank Powder Decepti Candy

This is why we said flavor isn’t the only element worth considering when trying to pick out the crème a la crème of weird candy. These colorful and seemingly harmless powder tubes have been created with a malicious intent behind them. One can stain your mouth, one will dull your tongue with its sour taste, another will foam when consumed, and the fourth one does all four.

#5 Thanksgiving Gumballs

Having trouble managing your time in order to set up that amazing Thanksgiving table? Don’t worry! Rather than spending hours on mashed potatoes and turkey, you can simply serve your guests these fantastic gumballs, all of which strongly resemble your favorite Thanksgiving dishes. You won’t even be able to tell the difference.

#6 Botan Rice Candy

It’s a general rule in cuisine that anything that is arranged on the plate must be edible. Some Japanese candy makers decided that this needed to be applicable for sugary delights too, which is why they decided to wrap their candy in edible rice paper.

#7 Caffeinated Maple-Bacon Lollipops

Do you ever wonder when too much would just be too much? Well, it’s definitely not the case of these extra lollipops. When you’re in a rush and can’t afford a full proper breakfast, just pop one of these in your mouth. You’ll get your morning coffee fix, your bacon, and your maple syrup all in one place.

#8 Grillz Candy

Make all your friends jealous by showing up before them rocking some diamond-like, shiny grills. While other people have just the grill, you’ll get to show them off with the fact that yours is also watermelon or peach flavored.

#9 Gummy Bacon

We know. The first instinct is to wonder who thought making bacon-flavored candy was a good idea. But it gets even more disappointing once you learn that it’s not even bacon-flavored. In conclusion, you’re stuck with a bacon lookalike gummy that tastes like strawberry. That’s one sure way to confuse your taste buds.

#10 Zombie Mints

No, they’re not zombie-flavored, but this weird candy would make an excellent horde bait in the eventuality of an upcoming zombie apocalypse. Rich in brain flavors, these zombie mints will save your life literally and figuratively!

How frustrating is it when you decide you want to cook something, look up the recipe and then realize that some of the ingredients there can only be found in some secluded temple in Tibet for the mere price of one of your lungs? Or worse, you realize you haven’t even heard of them. As far as aliments go, it’s difficult to incorporate them in a meal or your regular diet without having a starting point to go by. What does it taste like? If it’s a condiment, how strong is it? Can you use in combination with anything? What happens if I shove a tablespoon of it in my mouth and post it on YouTube? So many questions. We’re not here to answer them, though. We’re here to provide you with even more obscurity, by presenting 12 Vegetables That You Know Nothing About and offering a few pieces of knowledge about them.

1. Purslane

If you think this vegetable looks familiar, that’s because it’s similar to dandelion. A very popular ingredient in Greek and Mexican dishes, purslane brings a great deal of benefits to health. It’s rich in Vitamins C and E, and fibers that are very good for stomach protection. As far as taste go, it’s very lemon-y and crunchy, many chefs often opting to include it to pesto sauces, sandwiches and salads.

2. Hubbard Squash

I know it doesn’t look too attractive. In fact, it looks like the ugly distant relative of pumpkins. But since we were all taught to judge a book by its cover, I’ll have you know that the beauty of a hubbard squash is inside. It provides a great deal of vitamins, fiber and potassium. The ideal ways to consume it are in stews or roasted, served with pasta and kale.

3. Celeriac

The name resembles celery because it has a taste that does strongly resemble celery, except it has a knobbier looking root. Among the beneficial substances you can find in a celeriac, we count magnesium, potassium and three kinds of vitamins. The best thing about this vegetable, though, is that it can be cooked in a variety of ways. You can add it to salads by peeling and grating it, or you can mash it just like you’d do with mashed potatoes.

4. Purple Sweet Potato

Potatoes, we trusted you. I can’t believe there are still sides of you we know nothing about. This sweet breed of potatoes has its origins in Okinawa, a small Japanese island. While on the outside, nothing gives away their differences, on the inside they’re rich in dark purple pigments, which contain cancer-fighting substances. They taste so sweet that they’re mostly used for deserts.

5. Fiddleheads

Let’s just agree from the start that “fiddleheads” is probably the cutest name you could give a vegetable. They’re relatively new and pretty pretentious, given the fact that you can only grow them during springtime. Having a grassy taste, they’re popular inclusions in Asian and French cuisine.

6. Romanesco

With an appearance that makes me think of a mutated cauliflower, this Italian vegetable actually is a relative of the cauliflower, having even a very similar taste. The most fascinating thing about romanesco has to be the unique pattern spreading all over its surface, known also as the mathematical Fibonacci.

7. Sea Beans

These veggies hold the title for the coolest set of aliases: Sea Pickles, Pickleweeds and – check this out – Sea Asparagus 5 and Salicornias5. They almost sound like secret commando fighters. If you choose to purchase some sea beans, you should know that the edible part of the herb is the small leaves that are barely visible, which are mostly used as condiments. Beware, though: they’re very salty, so you might want to boil them in water first.

8. Yardlong Beans

A very fitting name for a vegetable that can reach even up to two feet in length. These beans are a popular culinary choice in South Asia, in Mid-West being ingredients that you can find in Chinese Green Noodles and Chinese Red Noodles. Should you ever decide that you want to grow these strange vegetables, make note of the fact that the ideal harvest time is before the seeds begin growing.

9. Gai Lan

This kind of vegetable tastes very similarly to broccoli, thus its alias as the “Chinese broccoli.” The only differences are that gai lan tastes more bitterly, since it doesn’t host the average broccoli florets. You can either boil or stir-fry the green leaves and stalks.

10. Mizuna

A type of mustard green that’s been grown in Japan since the oldest time, mizuna is a necessary addition to your daily or regular menu if you wish to improve your immunity. It contains iron, Vitamin C and folate, as well as several antioxidants that can greatly reduce the risk of cancer. You’ll need to keep in mind when going to purchase mizuna to check if its leaves are green and crisp, and not withered, if you want to benefit from all of its effects.

11. Kohlrabi

In German, this translates to “cabbage turnip.” An interesting combo, isn’t it? Kohlrabi is a member of the turnip family, thus also being rich Vitamin C and fiber. The inside is protected by two layers that must carefully be peeled off before you attempt to consume it. Speaking of consuming, whether cooked or raw, it has an excellent taste, so don’t worry about it. The most common place you can find this vegetable in is Asian stores.

12. Oca

Also known as the “New Zealand yam” or “the veggie that split America apart.” I say this because, while extremely rare in North America, oca is the second most consumed vegetable in South America, after the famous potato. Given oca’s variety in colors, there is also a variety of flavors.

Some of the best discoveries, even in the culinary field, occurred from responsible experimenting. So, as long as you can find and afford these 12 Vegetables That You Know Nothing About, which also happen to be packed with nutrients and beneficial substances, you have nothing to lose if you start using them as ingredients in your normal meals.